Violet Struggles Against Smiley's Dyslexia
INSIDE THE RANCH HOUSE IN THE DAYTIME:
TWO YEARS LATER:
A toy horse (with a cowboy on its back) jumps on the kitchen table in now SEVEN year-old Smiley's hands. (Bruised-headed Smiley sits on the lap of the now 22 year-old, battle-worn Violet.)
RODEO KING (Unseen voice)
(from front door)
The saddle's mightier than the pen!
VIOLET
Smiley's gonna be a doctor!
Violet runs her finger over letters ("D-O-G") on a tattered, stained childrens' reading workbook in front of Smiley.
Smiley's hands scatter toy horses on the table.
Violet buries her frowning face in her hands.
SMILEY
Neeeeiigggghh!
Smiley's toy-horse knocks over an open beer. Beer floods the workbook.
VIOLET
(throws a toy horse)
No read, no ride!
Smiley pouts, squirms in his chair, swings his legs, smacks the book with his toys.
SMILEY
Ma ba da cat cow.
VIOLET
Spanish vowels!
In Smiley's dyslexic vision, the LETTERS ("H-O-R-S-E") RE-ARRANGE on the page. They bounce like horses.
Smiley focuses his eyes.
Happily, the letters morph to their proper letter shape.
Smiley smiles, opens his mouth to read-
RODEO KING (Unseen voice)
The rodeo's already started!
In Smiley's Dyslexic vision, the letters devolve back into horses.
VIOLET
Go re-break your neck, Bull-man!
Frantic, Smiley grabs, pinches at the letters on the page. He IMAGINES he picks up the letters as horse-shaped objects, twists them.
Violet pounds her fingers on the letters.
VIOLET
D - O - G: What's that spell, Smiley?
SMILEY
(wails)
I dohn' know! I don' no I don' no iDonNO!
VIOLET
This is his 3rd year of Kintergarden, King!
Desperate, Smiley looks over his shoulder toward the front door, where stands scarred & worn, bottle-wielding 21 year-old Rodeo King. Rodeo King motions to Smiley, 'Let's Go.' Smiley grins.
VIOLET
He's gonna read this! - Whoooaa!
Smiley kicks his legs, rocks the chair back. So the chair tips over, dashing Violet to the floor. { CRASH! }
Smiley watches Violet jump up, throw the book and the toy horses across the table, knocking a crystal vase. Its roses fall to the floor as the vase smashes.
VIOLET
(yells)
The cops are gonna take you to Juvie'!
SMILEY
I don't read. I RIDE!
VIOLET
You'll rot in jail like Grandpa King if you don't READ!
Scared, Smiley scrambles under the table, grabs the (wet) book off the floor. Smiley clacks toy horses on the letters.
SMILEY
D - A - G spells Dad! I love Dad!
Rodeo King runs over under the table, picks up Smiley, throws Smiley on his back, heads for the door.
RODEO KING
That's right, Smiley! Dad starts with 'D'. Yer' gettin' smarter!
SMILEY
Mean Mommy!
Rodeo King runs Smiley through the front door.
SMILEY
(back at Violet)
No ride, no READ!
